Apparatus for determining water in butter, &amp;c.



PATENTBD JULY 2, 1907.

G. E. GRAY. APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING WATER IN BUTTER, &0.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 18, 1906.

ZSHEETS-SHEBT 1.

[live/2102' No. 858,868. PATENTED JULY 2, 1907.

G. E. GRAY. APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING WATER IN BUTTER, &0.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-13. 1906.

fut NoRRlI ParlRs m. WASHINGTON. b. c.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING WATER IN BUTTER, 862:.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed November 13, 1906. Serial No. 343,281.

DEDICATED TO THE PUBLIC.

This application is made under the act of March 3,

1883, chapter 143 (22 Stat, 625), and the invention herein described and claimed may be used by the Government of the United States or any of its officers or employees in the prosecution of work for the United States, or by any person in the United States, without the payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for determining water content, particularly in butter, butter substitutes, butterin, oleomargarin, cheese, and other dairy products; and the object is to provide a simple and effective apparatus, by means of which water content in any substance may be readily determined.

With the above object in View, the invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and clearly illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionof the entire apparatus showing a ground glass joint connecting portions of the apparatus at h; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the entire apparatus, showing the connection at h by means of an ordinary cork or rubber stopper; and,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings: -a is an ordinary flask.

b is an ordinary rubber stopper.

e is a tube, one end of which is stoppered with the stopperf. This end of the tube is graduated from i to k, the zero mark being at i, as shown in Fig. 2, to which point the end of the stopper f should extend when the stopper is inserted.

c is a bulb in the tube 6. In this bulb is sealed the tube d, which extends without the bulb far enough to be inserted through rubber stopper and in the bulb about one-half the length thereof, this end of the tube being turned at a right angle.

9 is a condensing jacket, being connected to the bulb of the tube e with ground glass joint at the point h, as in Fig. 1, or to the graduated part of the tube e with a cork or rubber stopper, as shown in Fig. 3. As stated, the condensing jacket 9 in Fig. 1 is connected to the bulb of the tube e with a ground glass joint, while in Fig. 3 the condensing jacket 9 is connected to the tube 6 with a cork or rubber stopper. This is the only difference between Figs. 1 and 3. The graduated part of the tube a may, of course, be marked to read per cent. for samples of definite weight.

In operation, a sample of definite weight of the material in which the water is to be determined is placed in flask a. With the sample in flask a is placed a definite compound having a boiling point higher than water, a specific gravity less than water, and which is practically .nsoluble in water. Amyl acetate, amyl butyrate, and amyl valerinate will be found satisfactory compounds. In this description it is assumed that amyl acetate is used. The tube e is inserted in the hole in the rubber stopper 1). The stopper is then placed in the mouth of the flask a. The condensing jacket g is connected with the tube e with the ground glass joint h, as shown in Fig. 1, or the stopper h, as shown in Fig. 3. This jacket g is now filled nearly full of water. The stopper f is removed and heat is applied to the flask a. The water in the sample is converted into steam and passes into the tube 6, where it is condensed and is held in the bulb 0, being prevented from flowing back into the flask a by the tube d. After the water has been boiled out of the sample the amyl acetate in the flask boils, driving any trace of water that may remain in the flask or on the under part of the stopper into the tube 1;. Some of the amyl acetate passes over into the tube 0, but being insoluble in water and of a different specific gravity, it separates from the water. The tube 6 is now disconnected from the flask a by removing the stopper b. The stopper f is inserted into the tube e. The water is poured from the condensing jacket g, which is then removed from the tube 6. The tube e is now inverted, placing the stoppered end downward. The water now flows into the graduated part of the tube. In order that all of the water may be thrown into the graduated'part-of the tube, the tube 6 may be rotated in a suitable centrifugal machine (not shown), or held by the bulb c, with the stoppered Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. In an apparatus for determining the amount of Water in butter and similar substances, the combination with a graduated tube, adapted to be tightly closed at one end by a stopper and having an enlargement forming a bulb at the other end, and an inner-sealed tube entering said bulb and forming a liquid trap therein.

2. In an apparatus for determining the amount of wateirin butter and similar substances, the combination with a graduated tube, adapted to be tightly closed at one end by a stopper, and having an enlargement forming a bulb at the other end and an inner-sealed tube entering said bulb and forming a liquid trap therein; said graduated tube being inclosed in a condensing jacket.

3. In an apparatus for determining the amount of water in butter and similar substances, the combination with a graduated tube adapted to be tightly closed at one end by a stopper and having an enlargement forming a bulb at the other end, and an inner-sealed tube entering said bulb and forming a liquid trap therein; said innersealed tube being bent to form substantially a right angle.

4. In an apparatus for determining the amount of Water in butter and similar substances, the combination of a flask u, a graduated tube 0, the latter being provided with a condenser g, surrounding said graduated tube, and also a stopper adapted to tightly close one end ofv said graduated tube, said tube being provided near its other end with an enlargement forming a bulb c, and an innersealed tube (1, communicating directly with the Hush at: one end and the other end forming a liquid trap in the lower part of said bulb c.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHESTER EARL GRAY. Witnesses HARRY Gonrue, O'ris H. Games. 

